On these diagrams, pairs of parallel lines show boundaries where plates are
spreading apart, lines with ticks show boundaries where plates are colliding,
and simple lines show other types of boundary. These include places where plates
are simply sliding past one another, places where motions are too complex to
portray simply, and places where new plate boundaries may be forming.

Antarctica was part of eastern Gondwanaland along with Madagascar, India and
Australia. Eastern Gondwanaland broke off of Africa about 120 million years ago,
and not long afterward, India and Madagascar broke off. Finally, Australia and
New Zealand broke off around 50 million years ago. As a result, Antarctica is
almost entirely surrounded by divergent plate boundaries.

As North America, South America, and Antarctica spread away from Africa, they
also pulled away from each other. The gaps were filled by oceanic crust that now
forms the tongue-like Caribbean and Scotia Plates.

Possible Coloring

Labeled Features

In addition to the large plates, significant small plates are labeled. Very small plates
are not labeled.